Computing-scale.



No. 666,626. Patented Ian. 22, 190:.

H. B. a B. L. mnuuv.

COMPUTING SCALE.

(Application filed July 3?, 1900.; (No Model.) 2 Shasta-Sheet No.666,626. Patented Jan. 22, mm. H. a. & a. L. McNULTY.

COMPUTING .SGALE.

(Application Mod July 31, 1900.) (lo Iodol.) 2 Sheats-8heat 2.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE HARRY B. MONULTY AND BENJAMIN L. MONULTY, OF WASHINGTON,DIS TRIOT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS TO GEORGE P. CHASE AND CHARLES IV.DARR, OF SAME PLACE.

COM PUTlNG-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,626, dated January22, 1901.

Application filed July 31, 1900- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY B. MONULTY and BENJAMIN L. MONULTY, citizensof the United States, residing at Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented a new and useful Computing-Scale, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The provision of price-computing mechanism for scales of variouscharacters has here- IO tofore involved a reorganization of ;the scalestructure, necessiting the purchase of a new and comparatively expensivescale by those desiring a weighing instrument adapted to antomaticallycompute the price of the article or substance weighed at any given priceper pound or other unit of weight. This reorganization of the scalestructure and the permanent incorporation therewith of thepricecomputing mechanism has removed the computing-scale from the reachof a large class of merchants unable or unwilling to incur the expenseof a new weighinginstrument of complicated construction for the solepurpose of securing the automatic computation of price of the substancesto be sold.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a simpleand inexpensive computing attachment designed to be readily attached toordinary forms of scales already in use without necessitating theslightestchange of the scale structure and without interfering with theaccurate adjustment of the balance or weighing mechanism, which isnecessarily taxed to some slight degree by its operative connection withthe computing mech anism to cause, the latter to indicate the totalvalue of any given number of pounds at any given price per pound.

To the accomplishment of this object-that 40 is to say, the productionof a computing device or attachment which may be readily applied toscales now in use without special adaptation of the latter-our presentinvention consists in attaching a computing-dial upon the indicator ofthe scale and inclosed in a light casing provided with means foreffecting its attachment to the cylinder or casing of the scale,theusual hand or indicator Serial No. 25,463. (No model.)

of the scale serving as a rotating support for the dial and the latterserving to indicate the 5 weight of the article or substance supportedin the scale-pan and to automatically compute the value thereof.

The invention further consists in the pecub iar construction of thedial, which renders its use in connection with prmiously-adjusted scalesa practical possibility, inasmuch as it is evident that the dial must beof exceedingly light weight to prevent it from having any appreciableeffect upon the adjustment of the scale; and a still further object ofthe invention is to provide a supplementary scale designed to beattached to the balance-plate of the scale and designed to move belowthe edge of the casing of the computing device for the purpose ofindicating an excess of weight over that contemplated by a singlerotation of the computing-dial.

The invention further consists in the construction and arrangementofparts to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a scale equipped withour computation attachment. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3is a side elevation with the scalepan and a portion of its bail removed.Fig.

4 is a sectional view of the subject-matter of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1,b ut showing the supplemental scale drawn down toindicate a weight of thirty pounds, which may or may not be an excessover the weight contemplated to be indicated by a single rotation of thedial. Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but on a somewhatlarger scale and showing the device equipped with the supplemental scaleand with the preferred form of dial. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective viewof the skeleton frame of the dial, and 0 Fig. 8 is a detail viewillustrating the construction and manner of attachment of thesupplemental scale.

Referring to the numerals of reference employed to designatecorresponding parts throughoutthe views, 1 indicates the casing of ascale, which in the accompanying drawings is illustrated as being of thespring-balance variety and comprehending a suitable suspending device 2,connected to the upper end of the casing, and a balai'ice-plate 3,movably mounted in the casing and having its lower end extendedtherebelow for attachment to the supporting-link i of the scale-pan 5,provided with a bail 6, engaged by thelink a. As usual in this class ofscales, the balance-plate 3 is sustained by a stout spring or otherpreferred form of weighing mechanism and is operatively connected to thearbor 7 of a pointer or indicator 8, designed to trai erse a circularscale provided upon the face of the casing l for the purpose ofindicating various weights in accordance with the position of thepointer orindicator. The aggroup ment of elements recited comprehendsthe ordinary spring-balance scale, which is the form selected by us forillustration in connection with our computation attachment. This latter,which, as heretofore stated, is designed for attachment to the scalewithout special adaptation thereof, comprehends a circular casing comprising a disk 9, preferablyof light metal, and a rim l0 at theperiphery of the disk and provided at its oppositeedge with a bezel 11,against which is seated the edge of a circular crystal or glassface-plate 12, rendered opaque, as by a paper backing 13, cut away atits periphery to form an arcuate sight-opening l4 and at any suitablepoint to form a radially-disposed sightopening 15. The means forattaching the case thus constrncted may be varied within wide limits, asour invention in its broadest aspect comprehends the attachability ofthe case to the scale-casing regardless of the particular means employedfor effecting the connection.

The attaching means illustrated and considered at this time to bepreferable consists in providing a pair of angular flanges 16 and 17,located at the opposite sides of an elongated opening 18 in the disk 9,the opening being designed for the reception of the scalecasing l andthe flanges 16 and 17 being extended at right angles to the disk and insubstantially parallel relation with each other for the support ofclamping-screws l9, piercing the flanges, and provided upon their innerends with rubber or other suitable frictional buffers 20, which areclamped against the casing 1 by turning up the screws 19 to effect therigid attachment of the case to the scale-casing. The angulararrangement of the flanges is provided for the purpose of permitting theclamping-screws 19 to urge the buffers 20 against both the side and endfaces of the casing for the purpose of preventing relative movement inany direction.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, as well as to Fig. 6, itwill be noted that the case of the computing mechanism having beensecured or attached to the casing 1 the face-plate of said casing andthe indicator or hand Swill be located within the case between the disk9 and the crystal 12. It simply remains now to provide a dial bearing aweight indicating scale and a computingscale and equipped with means foreffecting its attachment to the hand or indicator 8 for actuation by thelatter. We therefore employ a computation-dial 21, upon the face ofwhich is imprinted or otherwise affixed a circular weight-indicatingscale 22, surrounding radiating series of price designations 23,bearingproper relation to the scale and designed to be exposed before thesight-open ing 15 and in juxtaposition to a price-perpound scale 24: inaccordance. with a method of operation to be hereinafter more fullyexplained. At opposite sides of the arbor 7 the dial 21 is provided withdial-attaching devices or clamps 25, designed to be secured upon theindicator 8 adjacent to the arbor for the purpose of effecting arotation of the dial as the arbor is turned under the impulse of thebalance-plate 3 when the latter is drawn down by a weight imposed uponthe scalepan 5 or upon the element corresponding thereto in other formsof scales. It will now be seen that as the arbor of the scale is rotatedin the usual manner under the impulse of the object or substance to beweighed the dial 21 will be rotated and the weight of the object will bedetermined by the advance of the scale 22 beyond the end of thesight-opening let. (Indicated by the arrowin Fig. 1.) At the same timethe rotation of the dial through that are corresponding to each unitincrease in weight will present a new series of priceindicating figuresbefore the sight-opening l5 and in juxtaposition to the numbers indicating various prices per pound. For instance, as indicated in Fig. l, tenpounds is indicated by the weight-indicating scale 22, and immediatelybelow the numbers 5, (3, 7, S, and 9, appearing on the crystal, arepresented the numbers 50, 0O, 70, 80, and 90, the significance of whichis that the object or substance being weighed is of a total value offifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, or ninety cents, accordingly as the priceper pound is five, six, seveu,eight, or nine cents.

The device as thus far described and as illustrated in the first fourfigures of the drawings comprehends a complete embodiment of ourinvention in its broadest aspect; but inasmuch as the attachmentof anyknown form of dial to the delicately-poised indicator of a balance-scalewould tend in greater or less degree to interfere with the accuraterecording of weights we have devised a novel form of dial, which, whilesufficiently stiff to prevent warping or distortion under ordinaryconditions, will be so extremely light as to be capable of attachment tothe indicator 8 without interfering with the adjustment of the scale.The dial as thus constructed con1- prehends a skeleton frame, preferablymade i of aluminium and composed of a thin metal disk 26, constituting ahub from which radiate any desired number of light spokes 29, carrying asmall wire rim 30, said spokes being connected to the hub or disk in anysuitable manner-as, for instance, by brazing or soldering or by stampingthese parts of the frame from a single sheet of metal. At points uponopposite sides of its center the disk 26 is provided with the clamps orretaining devices 25, and over the skeleton frame thus constructed isdrawn a thin facing 31 of paper, muslin, or other suitable materialsecured to the frame in any desired manner, but preferably by winding itsnugly around the rim 30 and by utilizing the nuts 32 to re tain thefacing in close contact with the disk 28.

\Ve have also devised a supplemental attachment made necessary by theapplication of our computation device to an ordinary scale. Thisattachment is embodied in a supplemental scale-plate 33, having itsupper end bifurcated and provided with parallel flanges 34:,disposedupon opposite sides of the rib 36 of the balance-plate 3 and secured tosaid rib by clamping-screws 37, carrying buffers 38. In spring-scales ofusual construction the front face of the balance-plate 3 is providedwith graduations designed to indicate weights exceeding the capacity ofthe scale over the face of which the indicator moves; but the attachmentof our device obscures these graduations, and as this excess scale is anecessary feature of this class of weighing appliances we provide thesupplemental scale-plate 33, arranged for attachment to the lower end ofthe plate 3 and hearing graduations exposed below the lower edge of thecase of our computation mechanism and indicating Weights in excess ofthat contemplated by the scale 22.

From the foregoing it will be observed that we have produced a simple,inexpensive, and thoroughly eflicient computing attachment designed tobe applied to scales now in use without reorganization or specialadaptation of the latter; but while the present embodiment of the invention appears at this time to be preferable we do not wish to limitourselves to the structural details defined, as it is obvious that manyvariations might be effected without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For instance, instead of employing a paper backing to renderthe crystal 12 opaque said crystal might be colored or otherwiseobscured except at the sight-openings 14 and 15. Various attachingdevices might be em ployed for effecting the attachment of the dial tothe indicator, and various modes of effecting the ready attachment ofthe entire case to the scale-casing other than the special form offlanges and clamping-screws shown might be originated and utilizedbyindividual 1nanufacturers. We therefore reserve the right to effectsuch changes, modifications, and variations of both form and arrangementas may be comprehended Within the scope of the protection prayed.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a weighing-scale comprising a casing and arotary indicator, of a computing attachment comprising a case having aseries of adjustable clamps for effecting the attachment of the case tothe scalecasing, a computing-dial Within the casing, and couplingdevices carried by the dial and connected to the indicator at oppositesides of its axis.

2. The combination with a weighing-scale comprising a casing and arotary indicator, of a computing attachment comprising a case having anopening in its back for the reception of the scale-casing and flangesextending along opposite sides thereof, adjustable clamps carried by theflanges and bearing against the casing, a computing-dial within thecasing and adjustable clamping devices carried by the dial and engagingthe indicator at opposite sides of its axis.

3. The combination with a weighing-scale comprising a casing, a rotaryindicator and a balance-plate, of a case detachabl y carried by thescale-casing, a computing-dial within the case and carried by theindicator, and a supplemental scale detachably carried by thebalance-plate and depending below the case to indicate Weights in excessof the capacity of the dial and adjustable clamps for eifecting the.attachment of the supplemental scale to the plate.

4. A computing-dial designed for attachment to an ordinaryWeighing-scale Without disorganization or special adaptation of thelatter, said dial comprising a small light metal disk, a series ofspokes radiating from said disk, a light rim connecting the outer endsof the spokes, a facing stretched over the frame thus formed, and a pairof coupling devices extending laterally from the small metal diskadjacent to and parallel With the axis thereof, whereby said dial may bereadily coupled directly and rigidly to the indicator of an ordinaryweighing-scale at opposite sides of the scale-shaft andimmediatelyadjacent thereto.

5. The combination with a weighing-scale comprising a casing and anindicator, of a computing attachment comprising a case having an openback for the reception of the scale-casing, means for detachablyconnecting the attachi'nent-case to the scale-casing, a computing-dialWithin the case, and an at-- taching device for detachably connectingthe dial directly to the indicator of the scale whereby the attachmentmay be mounted for use upon an ordinary weighing-scale withoutdisorganization or special adaptation of the latter.

IIO

6. The combination with a Weighing-scale our own We have hereto affixedoursignatnres comprising a casing and an indicator, of a in the presenceof two Witnesses. C0111 ntin z z 'hlnei v 'in 't in b 60min M HARRY B.MONULTY. havlng an open back for the receptlon 0f the T ,1 T

g v BENJAMIN L. MO1\UL1X. 5 casing, ad nstable clamps earned at the backof the case for engagement with the seaie- Witnesses for H. B. MeNnlty:

easing, a computing-dial within the case, and CHAPMAN W. FOWLER,

adjustable clamps carried by the dial and en- D. P. WOLHAUPTER.

gaging the indicator at opposite sides of its Witnesses for B. L.MeNulty: :6 axis. LOUIS G. J ULIHN,

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as O. A. NEALE.

